Waterbury evening Democrat., 1887-12-20
NEWS FROM WASHINGTON.
THE MUCH TALKED OF ADMINISTER.
 TON TARIFF BILL

TON TARIFF BILL
 Contemplates m Annual Reduction of : S62, GOO, OOO-Reform of the Customs
 Administrative Service-various Com
 mittees to be Soon Reported.
 WASHINGTON, Dec. 2O.-The administra- tion tariff bill, which will go before the ways and means committee with the ln- dorsemsnt of Speaker Carlisle, after the holiday recess, as the basis of revenue re- form, contemplates reduction of $62 ,000,- GOO annual revenue. Of this amount $50,- 900 is to come from reductions of duties, chiefly on manufactures, and $12, ,OOO, 900 from adding wool, salt, lumber, coal, etc. to the free list. The bill aims at a very extensive revision of present methods of administering the tariff law, and remedying inconsistencies and irregularities in the law, as we'll as general reduction of the high rate of tariff taxes. It proposes the substistution of specific for advalorem rates, where the latter are difficult of enforcement In the chemi- cal, earthen and glass ware schedules, numer- ous judicious reductions are proposed. In metals, material reductions on iron and steel are recommended. In the wool and woolen schedule, raw wool being made free, the rates on woolen fabrics are SO reduced as to take awpy about $10,0O0, 900 upon the basis of last years importations. lncon- sistencies as to rates on worsted and wOolen cloths are corrected, and here occurs some sf the most important changes proposed in the bill. The bill embraces the schedules prepared for congress last winter by Secre- tary Fairchild, substituting specific for ad- valorem duties on silks, gloves and embroid- cries. It also includes the Hewitt plan for reform of the customs administrative ser vice, with some changes and additions sug- gested by treasury experience since MT. Hewitt's bill was first introduced. The measure, it is said, is the result of incalculabe labor and care, and is the outgrowth of years of study and experience on the part of treas ury experts.
 Speaker Carlisle says he hopes to be able to announce the ways and means and appro O. priations committee mem berships before the holiday recess. The ways and means com mittee is not likely to hold very protracted hearings this session, and it is consequently expected that a tariff bill can be agreed upon in @ comparatively short time. The committee rules was announced yester- day, as follows: The speaker and Messrs. Randall Mills, Reed and Cannon.
 The senate finance committee yesterday
 
 senate to-day the bill compiled by the spe- cial committee on undervaluations, which has for two years been studying the subject of reform of the customs administration laws relating to the appraisement of import ed merchandise. The bill contains twenty one sections, and repeals all other laws as to appraisements and customs administration It does away with merchant appraisers and with the right of importers to appeal from reappraisements to the courts or the secretary of the treasury. It provides for nine general appraisers at salaries of S, 900, to whom arc given the power of final decision in all questions of classified tion and appraisement. The duties ot customs officers and the requirements as to invoices, entries etc., are all more clearly de- fined. Penalties for offering or accepting bribes and for attempted evasions of duty are made more severe. It is provided that invoices must give the actual market value of imported merchandise at the place of purchase or product on. Appraising officers are authorized to use every proper means to ascertain the correctness of invoices, and ill cases of undervaluation to the extent of 5 per cent. penalties will attach, and forfeiture in cases of 20 per cent. undervaluation. The burden of proof is placed upon importers instead of customs officers in cases of ap- parent fraud. The system of damage allow ances is wholly abolished. Coverings ill which merchandise is imported are to ba included in estimating the value upon which, duty is assessed. The bonded warehouse system is not in any way changed by the bill. Fees and oaths are done away with so far as possible.
 Senator Blair, from the committee on education, yesterday reported favorably the bill passed by the senate during the last ses- sion and known as the Blair educational bill. It received the unanimous endorsement of the committee, and contains but one slight change from the bill as it passed the senate. Itprovides for total appropriation of $79, ,00O, 900 to be expended in eight years.